2017 BMW i3

Vehicle Highlights

What You Will Like

The BMW i3 is part of the new wave of electric and hybrid cars that are becoming more and more popular in the U.S. The i3 has relatively compact external dimensions, but still has a very usable cabin with surprising amounts of interior space. Standard equipment levels are high, and the i3 generally aims to compete in the compact premium segment, offering buyers plenty of luxury features in a car that is perhaps a little smaller than the traditional luxury cars of old.

Of course, the electric drivetrain is what really separates the i3 from its competitors. In standard form, it offers a combination of usable range and remarkably fast charging times. With the optional range extender equipped, the system offers functionality similar to other hybrid cars on the market such as the Chevrolet Volt. The i3 uses a range-extending gasoline engine exclusively as a generator, providing electric power to the rear wheel motors. The i3 base price starts at under $43,000, while versions equipped with a range extender start at around $46,000.

What's New For 2017

For 2017, the BMW i3 receives a larger-capacity battery, which retains the same footprint as before. With more energy density in the lithium ion cells, the new battery provides more than 50 percent extra capacity, according to BMW. The i3 is now capable of driving approximately 114 miles on a single charge, up 33 miles from the previous model. Elsewhere, the Deka World interior fabric is now standard, as is real-time traffic information and a universal garage door opener. An electric moonroof in now optional.

Warranty

Basic Warranty: 4 Years / 50,000 Miles

Drivetrain Warranty: 4 Years / 50,000 Miles

Roadside Assistance: 4 Years / Unlimited Miles

Hybrid Component: 8 Years / 100,000 Miles

A vehicle's warranty can significant impact your maintenance costs after you drive off the dealer's lot, and it's important to understand the different parts. Typically, a new car warranty includes a Basic warranty, which covers everything except the wear items such as brakes and tires; and a Drivetrain warranty, that covers all the parts that make the car move, such as the engine and transmission

Compare the 2017 BMW i3

Loading Comparison...

Introduction

The BMW i3 is an environmental-radical showcase of a car with a unique persona. It’s expensive for its small size, but there is genius to this little car, in the way it calms and soothes the driver with its electric powertrain, the way it takes the stress out of city driving and puts some fun in, while being the most energy-efficient car sold in the U.S.

The hatchback styling is distinctive and daring, unlike any other car. The i3 is four years old but doesn’t seem like it, because there are so few of them on the road.

Supermodels’ names have been attached to the three BMW i3 models: Mega, Giga and Tera. But as forward-thinking as these green sisters may be, they’re already outdated; that’s how it goes in a world that moves at the speed of light. The far more affordable and prosaic Chevrolet Bolt EV came out with an unbeatable 240 miles of range.

So for 2017, the BMW i3 is available with more mileage. That available with phrase means it’s an option costing $1200. A new lithium iron battery with 33 kilowatt hours yields 114 all-electric miles, a lot more than the 81 miles from the i3 with the standard 22-kilowatt-hour battery.

The i3 can run on gas when the electricity goes flat. That’s an option too. For 2017, the gas tank on the i3 with the backup engine has been increased to 2.4 gallons from 1.9, adding two quarts’ worth of miles to the overall range. The available engine is a two-cylinder 650cc range-extending (REx) engine, making 38 horsepower and 40 pound-feet of torque. It’s clever, in its pursuit of fuel mileage. The engine doesn’t power the wheels, but rather a generator that charges the battery. Using electric and fuel, the car’s range reaches 150 miles. The engine costs another $4700 over the $1200 for the bigger battery.

With the weaker 22-kilowatt-hour battery, the i3 is rated at 124 MPGe. The 33-kW battery with greater range only scores 118 MPGe, because that battery takes more energy to charge. Mile Per Gallon Equivalent unit, or MPGe, measures how far a car can run on electricity, while using the amount of energy in a gallon of gas.

The i3 also has an available Combined Charging System, a strong 7.4 kwh (compare to Nissan Leaf’s 6.6), which uses a quick-charging 240-volt port. It can charge the 22-kilowatt battery in 3 1/2 hours, and the 33-kilowatt battery in 4 1/2 hours, compared to as much as 16 hours with a standard 110-volt outlet. Installing the 240-volt BMW station at home can be done easily by an electrician. Only one problem with the option: BMW uses its own standard, incompatible with the vast majority of public charging stations. The good news is that all charging stations being built today are “dual-standard,” with two cables, so the newer stations will accept all electric cars.

The i3 hasn’t been crash tested, but it’s built like an Indy car, with a plastic body that’s reinforced by carbon fiber and attached to an aluminum chassis. It comes with six airbags, including side airbags in the lightweight seat frames. The aluminum chassis platform holds all the electronics, and is designed to absorb impact. BMW says the cabin will remain intact in a crash at up to 40 mph. The battery is mounted to the chassis and shuts down all power in a crash.

Lineup

The BMW i3 60 ah ($42,400) gets the 22kwh battery. The BMW i3 ($44,450) upgrades to the 33 kWh battery. The BMW i3 with Range Extender ($48,300) adds the two-cylinder gasoline engine. (Prices are MSRP and do not include destination charge.)

The Mega, Giga and Tera sisters have a last name: World. So the models are i3 Mega World, i3 Giga World, and i3 Tera World. Equipment in the Mega is less than mega. Leather-like upholstery made from recycled plastic, heated front seats, HD satellite radio (but not AM), automatic climate control, navigation, LED headlamps, and DC fast-charging capability using the Combined Charging Standard connector. No rearview camera.

Giga World is mostly cosmetic, with wool and fabric seats, leather and wood trim, and different 19-inch alloys. The Tera World has leather and fancier alloy wheels.

There’s a Parking Assistant package with rearview camera, parking sensors, and parking assist. The Technology Plus Driver Assistant package includes upgraded navigation with real-time traffic, radar adaptive cruise control with stop and go, city driving assist, and BMW Online. Other options include 20-inch wheels, a Harman/Kardon sound system, metallic paint and a moonroof.

Walkaround

The i3 attracts attention, it has presence for being so small, and it carries intrigue. But it’s not attractive. Its profile is dorky, stubby at both ends while being tall. It looks best when viewed head-on, except for the chunky door handles, and the conspicuously skinny tires chasing mileage. From the rear, the tires look like they got lost on their way to a mountain bike.

The so-called grille is blacked-out, blue at the edges, the BMW signature on its i cars. No need for a grille with no engine up there.

So many lines and shapes going in different directions, at the rear. It’s confusing. Are those tail fins?

Interior

Forward visibility is terrific except when it’s blocked by the big rearview mirror and camera, and it’s only adequate on the right and over the shoulder. The rear window is high and narrow, so there’s not much to peek through. A rearview camera is a real benefit here, but it’s not standard on the Mega.

Unlike the exterior, the innovative interior is soothing. It feels more Scandinavian than German. Simple. Tight textiles, light and dark, give whimsy and elegance. Not at all business-like, as in other BMWs.

The dashboard is like a shelf with a tablet on it, a 10.2-inch screen controlled by a knob on the center console.

The front seats are thin but bolstered well, and comfortable for hours. The base upholstery is like leather, made from recycled plastic; upgraded upholstery includes wool and real leather.

In effect the i3 is a two-seater, as the rear seat is hopelessly small and awkward to reach, despite the rear-hinged doors.

The trunk is small too. Total cargo space: as slim as it gets.

The Mega World gets that leather-like recycled-plastic upholstery. The instrument panel is what BMW calls grain foil. The Giga World ups the ambience to earthtone, with wool and olive leaf-tanned leather upholstery, leather instrument panel, and open-pore eucalyptus trim that would look lovely in a house.

Plastic bits still lurk in the corners. The Tera World is very dark.

The seat is high and upright, affording a good view. The steering wheel tilts and telescopes over a broad range. Any passenger that might be able to squeeze in the rear will also sit high, because of the battery pack underneath. It’s chin-to-knee time.

There’s almost zero mechanical noise inside the cabin, and very little road and wind noise. The only sound is a small serene hum from the electric motor (unless the gas-powered range extender is running).

Driving Impressions

BMW i3 acceleration is smooth and quick, with its 125-kilowatt motor (about 170 horsepower), making 184 pound-feet of torque. The regenerative braking is so strong the brake pedal is only needed to bring the car to a full stop, not to slow down. Other electric cars aren’t programmed so radically as the i3, even with its coasting mode between acceleration and regeneration. The i3 doesn’t coast smoothly or decelerate gently. These are sacrifices so the battery keeps it charge longer. Range is everything.

The all-electric i3 zips from zero to sixty in 7.0 seconds, while the optional range-extender engine slows it to 7.8 seconds. We’ve had an i3 up to an all-electric 83 mph, but at that speed you might get 10 minutes of battery.

The top-model’s range extender (REx) and generator package that supplements the electric motor has its limitations. Up long steep grades, and at 70 mph with the a/c on and stereo blasting, REx gets maxed out, and full power can’t be reached. The range extender doesn’t generate enough current to deliver full power.

The two-cylinder is basically a motorcycle engine, a 650cc twin making 34 horsepower and 40 pound-feet of torque. Think 1967 Triumph Bonneville. Heartbreakingly, it’s not used to power the wheels, but to power a generator that charges the battery. With its 2.4-gallon fuel tank, it increases the overall range to 150 miles, but cuts the electric range because of its weight.

A road trip with the i3 better be short. Stop for two gallons of gas every 140 miles, and pack real light.

There are modes on the console to increase range. Eco Pro and Eco Pro+ add 12 and 25 percent more miles. (Eco Pro+ gets more conservative with the heating and cooling.) If you need quick acceleration, those modes are instantly overridden. But the eco modes still allow decent power, unlike the eco modes on most cars.

The handling is nimble and crisp, with a small turning circle of 32.3 feet, to make parking very easy. It rides well enough, but it drifts in crosswinds, and rides stiff on those high-mileage skinny tires, which probably also contribute to the drifting in the wind.

The front tires start squealing way early. The rear jitters and skips in a fast choppy turn. The high seats mean more head roll.

Summary

If you live in the city and want the most noticed electric car on the street, the i3 is for you. The 2017 model with the optional motorcycle engine adds more range overall and reduces anxiety because the car can be quickly refueled.

Free Select

Updating...

About These Prices

As you know, pricing cars is particularly complicated. One of our duties at CarQuotes.com is to help our customers comprehend this process better.

Three important prices we may show on a particular vehicle

CarQuotes.com Estimated Target Price is for research purposes only. It reflects a typical, negotiated price (before taxes and other customary fees and charges, such as dealer documentation fees, tire and battery disposal fees, license and registration, and where applicable, finance charges) generally found for the vehicle that you selected. The Estimated Target Price is NOT a price quote from CarQuotes.com or any other dealer. If you request a price quote from a dealer via CarQuotes.com displaying an estimated target price, your price may differ.

Invoice is commonly known as the published amount that the dealer paid the manufacturer for the vehicle. This may or may not represent a close relation to the dealer’s actual cost, but can be beneficial as a benchmark. This figure is available on many other web sites however CarQuotes.com adds an estimate of local and regional fees from manufacturer to the dealers to this price, which makes it very close to the actual invoice amount for cars at your local dealer.

MSRP is the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price. This is a proposed price only. For most vehicles, the CarQuotes.com price is below this amount. Some high demand cars may be priced over this amount.

Estimated Target Price

The CarQuotes.com Target Price is to be used as a general guide that reflects a typical, market price (before taxes and other customary fees and charges) generally found for the vehicle that you selected. This price is based on our research and estimates of supply and demand in the marketplace. There are many factors that go into the final price of a particular vehicle including local supply and demand. Your final price may differ.

CarQuotes.com Estimated Target Prices include

The ’base’ price of the vehicle
All options that you select
Base Destination Charges — this is a charge that is added to the base price for every vehicle
Any related Estimated Manufacture to Consumer Cash Rebates. Note: rebates are subject to change at any time. Please make sure to confirm any consumer Cash rebates with your dealer representative at the time of purchase.

CarQuotes.com Estimated price(s) do NOT include any of the following:

Local taxes, license fees and other local fees, such as dealer documentation fees, tire and battery disposal fees, and where applicable, finance charges — these fees are also excluded from Dealer Invoice and MSRP and would be excluded from most advertisements you might see.
Random ’special qualification’ rebates — i.e., for new college grads only; for customers trading in a specific type of car. Ask your dealer Representative for more information on ’special qualification’ rebates.

CarQuotes Estimated Dealer Price

The Estimated CarQuotes Dealer Price is an estimate of the pricing presented to CarQuotes members from CarQuotes Authorized Dealers in your area, and is calculated by subtracting an estimated savings value from the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price ("MSRP") as well as a value that relates to invoice for the "ideal vehicle" you configured. Dealer documentation, administrative or similar processing fees are not included in the price estimate. Any vehicle configured on the CarQuotes website is an "ideal vehicle" and may not exist at a CarQuotes Authorized Dealer or any other partner dealer. Each Dealer attempts to match a member’s vehicle preferences with the best possible selection from current, in-stock inventory.

Estimated Savings

The Estimated Savings represents the estimated amount of savings off of MSRP available to you from CarQuotes Dealers for a vehicle consistent with your configured preferences plus any customer incentives currently available. This is also true when it comes to CarQuotes estimated target prices. Your actual savings will depend on several factors including market conditions, the style of vehicle you select, installed options, dealer coverage, and applicable manufacturer incentives. Each dealer sets its own pricing.

In most cases, you must choose between these programs OR a customer rebate or a special manufacturer-to-dealer incentive that may or may not already be included in your CarQuotes.com Target Price. So, your final price may go up if you take advantage of special manufacturer financing. Credit Union members should contact their Credit Union loan department to determine what type of loan and financing options are right for you.

Please note that CarQuotes.com strives to include identified manufacturer incentives within the CarQuotes.com Target Price. CarQuotes.com does not administer these programs, which are subject to and often change without notice. Eligibility for these programs is subject to verification by a licensed auto dealer.

Ask your dealer representative for complete manufacturer program details for your area, and how participation in these programs will affect your price.

Base Vehicle

The base vehicle is the vehicle before any optional equipment or destination fees have been added. All of the standard features are included in the base vehicle.

Options

This is the total charge for all optional equipment included in the configuration of your virtual vehicle. The Options charge varies depending on whether it is calculated based on the Factory Invoice or MSRP. Options are not included in the base vehicle price and are not considered standard features.

Regional Fees

A Regional Fee is the fee a manufacturer charges a dealer to advertise and promote the vehicle in the dealer’s market. CarQuotes also includes estimated manufacturer preparation charges (manufacturer charges to the dealer to cover any work done on the car prior to delivering it to the dealership) and fuel charges (the charge for the fuel in the tank when the buyer purchases the vehicle) in this total. CarQuotes attempts to include regional ad fees in its Factory Invoice calculations; other sites at times do not.

Destination Fees

These are the amounts that manufacturers charge to deliver a vehicle from the factory to the dealership.

Customer Incentives

Customer incentives are also commonly known as customer cash or bonus incentives. These incentives are offered by manufacturers as a way of enticing buyers into purchasing a vehicle.

Note: Dealer Invoice amount might not be the amount that the dealer paid to the manufacturer

Dealer Invoice price may or may not bear close relation to a dealer’s actual cost for the vehicle. In some cases, a cost for a vehicle may be significantly less than the invoice price originally paid for the vehicle. Any difference between invoice price and the dealer’s final cost may be caused by many factors including factory refunds, rebates, allowances, or incentives which the manufacturer or distributor may provide to the dealer.